Reviews

The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip

justinesherry's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

kcvmoundshroud's review against another edition

3.0

Aaarrgghhh, it’s a sad day 😥! This is the first McKillip book that just did not entrance me. The language was gorgeous and the setting perfect as usual, but the plot and organization failed me utterly. Instead of being completely transported to my usual expected enchanted worlds, the journey through this book was plodding and frequently interrupted. Perhaps it’s me missing something, but I just couldn’t hear the magical music this book was trying to play. Drat!

paintedgiraffe's review against another edition

It just felt like a slog. I liked "The Bell at Sealy Head" and I liked her short story "The Fellowship of the Dragon", but really couldn't get into this one. I was way too confused about everyone's motivations and the magic system makes zero sense to me. It sucks because I finally got around to reading this after it was on my to-read list for a whooping eleven years.

blacksphinx's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There is nothing I can possibly say about this unique work of art. I want to put it in the hands of every musician and poet I know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Death

Minor: War

clarabooksit's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Death

notamy's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

asma_aj's review

3.0

When Phelan Cle chooses to write about Bone Plain-- a metaphor and a cautionary tale for poets, he expected it to easily be his pass out of the school on the hill. But as strange old relics are revealed through archeological digs, and a mysterious bard inserts himself in the city of Caerau, almost instigating the next most anticipated Bardic competitions through what can only be magic, Phelan begins to question the streams of historical lines that brought about the legend of Bone Plain.

This book took AGES for me to finish! I know I was singing praises about McKillip (and I still adore her stories), but I don't think I liked this one very much. To read the rest of the review, visit A Reading Kabocha @ http://areadingkabocha.blogspot.com

blackcatbinx29's review

emotional lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jeand's review

hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emmc's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0